Our portfolio of wind energy consultancy solutions includes a wide and varied range of onshore and offshore wind turbine power structures, supported by leading edge renewable energy infrastructure planning and design from transportation networks to substation MEP. Whatever the challenge, we can help you identify and implement the best solutions for a sustainable green energy future.
Wind power plays a significant role in advancing the green transition and building a sustainable energy society. At Sweco, we have extensive expertise in all aspects of wind energy farm projects – from necessary assessments and legal procedures to biodiversity assessments, energy efficiency optimization, and wind energy farm planning. We also help integrate wind power into other renewable energy technologies.
At Sweco, we offer a comprehensive service package for wind energy plant projects. Our experts ensure that wind energy plants are located, permitted, designed, and constructed correctly and responsibly, from both human and environmental perspectives. We serve energy and SPVs, municipalities, and property owners in various business areas.
Our international network of consultants – drawing on vast experience across key wind (and wider renewables) developments in the Nordics and Scotland – specialise in wind power project initiation. Collaboration often begins in the preliminary study phase, where we focus on wind power strategies, business models, and technology monitoring. Our experts in regional and project development, as well as in environmental consulting, guide the entire project team in the right direction throughout the project, ensuring smooth wind power production, transmission, utilization, and storage.
Benefit from international, multi-disciplinary collaboration
Land use planning
Geotechnical design
Infrastructure planning
Transportation planning
Building services design
Energy and life cycle planning
Structural design, e.g. wind turbine foundation design
Quality assurance and control
Structural design, e.g. wind turbine foundation design
Quality assurance and control
End-to-end wind energy engineering & consultancy solutions
Wind turbine farms: geotechnical permits, investigations, and reports
Comprehensive data and various studies, assessments and surveys are required for all wind turbine farm projects. We carry out all the necessary surveys and statutory procedures for wind turbine farms, such as Environmental Impact Assessments and component master plans. We help manage the entire licensing process to ensure the project is completed in good spirits and on schedule.
Environmental reports
Environmental assessments for wind energy farms encompass a range of factors, including their impact on nature. These evaluations consider the effects of wind turbines on the landscape and cultural heritage, as well as on living conditions, including issues such as noise and shadows. They also examine potential impacts on water systems, transportation, and the local flora and fauna. Special attention is paid to the presence of breeding and migratory birds, flying squirrels, bats, and the marine ecosystem in the context of offshore wind farms.
Geospatial and soil surveys
Prior to wind turbine design, it is required to conduct geospatial and land surveys. These surveys serve as the foundation for evaluating various design options and determining the most efficient approaches. We always determine on a case-by-case basis what kind of loads the wind turbine foundations will be subject to and how they can be managed with infrastructure as well as geotechnical and structural design. Additionally, we carry out essential drainage surveys as part of our comprehensive assessment process.
Investment surveys
At the beginning of a wind energy farm project, it is important to evaluate the economic conditions and business case development. Energy investment studies and comparative analyses ensure the economic viability of the wind energy farm. Important preliminary surveys also include production forecasts and appropriate sizing of wind turbine capacities.
Wind energy farm design and implementation
Wind energy farm projects require multi-disciplinary design expertise and co-ordination of different technical fields. We can provide all wind energy farm design and supervisory services under one roof. This ensures that the completed wind turbine farm operates optimally and produces energy with the best possible efficiency.
In many wind energy farm projects, we actively assess various options for wind power storage. Energy can be efficiently stored using methods like soil or rock storage, sand storage, water reservoirs, or integration with a district heating network. Additionally, surplus wind energy can be harnessed for the eco-friendly production of green hydrogen.
Throughout the construction phase, our experts play a vital role in monitoring and ensuring quality, including rigorous testing and research on concrete structures. Following the commissioning stage, our services extend to warranty inspections, maintenance planning, and ongoing production monitoring to optimize the farm’s performance.
What I love about working at Sweco is our ability to genuinely shape a sustainable future, together with our clients. We’re in a position to lead Europe’s energy transformation, with our global ‘team of teams’ driving innovative engineering, environmental technology and efficient processes to design thriving communities for a greener society.
Onshore wind energy farms are strategically positioned in regions with advantageous wind patterns, including plains, hilltops, and coastal areas. Their proximity to populated zones and established infrastructure streamlines grid connectivity.
One advantage of onshore wind farms is their accessibility and cost-effectiveness when it comes to installation and maintenance. Since they are situated on land, technicians can easily reach the turbines without the need for specialized vessels or complex offshore logistics. On the other hand, the wind conditions on land can exhibit more variability and turbulence compared to offshore locations.
Offshore wind farms are located in bodies of water, typically in the open ocean or expansive lakes which require the use of undersea cabling for grid connection. One of the advantages of offshore wind farms is the consistency and higher wind speeds, providing a dependable source of wind energy. Yet, the installation and maintenance of offshore wind farms is more complex and costly. Special vessels and equipment are essential for offshore operations, contributing to the higher initial investment required for these projects.
As an industry-renowned specialist in onshore & offshore projects with over 20 years of experience, Sweco delivers unrivalled wind consultancy and design capabilities. We are the consultant of choice, drawing on our strong European expertise to work with developers, contractors and investors in providing specialist services. Our expertise includes site screening and wind feasibility, planning and scheme development through to detailed design and advisory services during the construction, implementation and operation stages.
Supporting the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan
The Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan (CCP), and Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan (ESJTP), are part of a long-term commitment to tackling climate change. The most recent CCP was launched in 2018 (currently being updated) and sets out the Scottish Government’s vision for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2045.
A critical step before finalising these plans is to carry out the various Impact Assessments to consider how Scotland’s net zero future may impact (either positively or negatively), different sectors of the population in different ways – and Sweco is proud to be playing a key role in that process.
The aim of this work is to improve policy effectiveness and to de-risk the policy launch process. Sweco UK teams will use tried and tested impact assessment methodologies to consider impacts upon Scotland’s diverse community, its environment, and business sectors. The work will enable robust and evidence-based decision-making and ensure that policies are future-proofed in order that they can actively contribute to achieving Scotland’s Vision by 2045.
Germany has set an energy goal to be climate neutral by 2045. To achieve this, the country is expanding its energy grid with a series of projects planned. One of them is the Rhein-Main-Link, a connection that will transport electricity from offshore wind farms in the North Sea over a 500-kilometer corridor to Hessen in the Rhein-Main region.
With a strong local industry and close to six million inhabitants, the region is a major energy consumer with high network requirements. The connection aims to satisfy the region’s growing energy needs from 2033 onward.
German TSO Amprion has contracted Sweco to provide project management during the entire planning phase. More specifically, Sweco is aiding Amprion in the collaborative management of the technical and environmental planning aspects, ensuring the project adheres to strict standards for timely delivery, quality and transparency.
Future-proofing Sweden’s grid
Wind power expansion, nuclear decommissioning and overall increased energy consumption in Sweden require greater transmission capacity in the electricity grid throughout the country.
State-owned TSO Svenska kraftnät has commissioned Sweco with the task of completing a comprehensive review and upgrade of the entire system. This includes ensuring the reliability of the 16,000 kilometres of overhead lines that make up the backbone of the country’s electricity supply.
More specifically, Sweco is completing a preliminary study and pre-planning and detailed project planning of measures to be taken for a review of the overhead lines. Sweco’s assignment also encompasses geotechnical surveys and analysis to ensure the safety and security of overhead lines.
Together with our clients and the collective knowledge of our 22,000 engineers, consultants and other specialists, we co-create solutions to address urbanisation, capture the power of digitalisation, and make our societies more sustainable. With international multi-disciplinary teams, we can call on the right insight and technical capability at the right time from across Buildings, Infrastructure, Advisory & Planning and Compliance.
We use cookies to optimize our website and our services. For our policies, please visit our Cookie Policy
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
